Case Study of Youth Empowerment Scheme of Niger State, Nigeria in Poverty Alleviation

This study investigated the role of the Youth Empowerment Scheme (Project YES) of Niger State, Nigeria as a non-governmental organization in poverty alleviation through skills acquisition. The study was carried out to determine the impact of Project YES in poverty alleviation in the State and also to determine whether the scheme has succeeded in empowering its beneficiaries in terms of skill acquisition for selfempowerment. A survey design was adopted for the study. The study revealed that the Scheme has succeeded in empowering its beneficiaries by way of vocational skills acquisition hence contributing to a change in their socio-economic status. Based on the findings, the study recommends among others the urgent need to introduce the scheme at the Local Government Area levels to cater for the poverty stricken rural dwellers, and also the need for government at all levels to encourage individuals, philanthropists and philanthropic organizations to set up poverty alleviation related NGOs to supplement her effort in fighting the scourge of poverty in Nigeria.